Later, Xia Yan worked in a newspaper in Shanghai and lived not far from Cao Juren's home. But after work, Xia Yan seldom went to see Cao Juren, only called once every few weeks, and rarely met each other at ordinary times. Once, speaking of Cao Juren, Xia Yan's wife, Cai Shuxin, asked, "You have such a good relationship with Lao Cao, why don't you two walk around often?" At this moment, the bell of the bell tower rang in the distance. Xia Yan pointed to the distance and asked his wife, "Did you hear the bell just now?" Cai Shuxin replied: "The bell is so loud, of course I heard it." "Then if we put our ears on the clock face, will his voice be so beautiful?" Cai Shuxin smiled: "Three-year-olds know this truth. If you stick it too close, how can people's ears stand it? What are you talking about?" Xia Yan also smiled: "This is why Lao Cao and I don't often walk around. Making friends is like listening to a clock. If you keep a certain distance, your relationship will be as wonderful as listening to a clock in the distance. "
if friends are listening to the clock, being too close will do harm. Only by keeping a proper distance and leaving a certain space for both sides can the melody of mutual friendship be as wonderful as listening to a clock in the distance.
(from Hao Jinhong's Thinking and Wisdom)